YES! The new USB 3.0 card worked. Controllers work without plugging them in to USB and shut off when SteamVR closes! That means both my internal USB and my old USB 3.0 card were not compatible. Just for reference the old card that did not work was ORICO PCI-E PME-2U CARD
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I already got a new USB 3.0 card from inatech. Just came in today so have not tried it yet but I'm pretty sure my USB ports are the issue becuase this isn't something new. Vive controllers always did this for me but I also had trouble with a USB 3.0 external drive bay and that worked on another PC without issue.
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I did some digging regarding the 5 second time out and discovered it's a problem with USB ports. I have built in USB and a add-on USB 3.0 card and both do the same. I ordered the: Inateck PCI-E to USB 3.0 2-Port PCI Express Card and 15-Pin Power Connector, Mini PCI-E USB 3.0 Hub Controller Adapter Looks like that should solve the issue I have been living with for a year.
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I updated the firmware and got it to work correctly one time after that. Interestingly I can boot up SteamVR by turning on a controller. SteamVR runs and the controller shuts off. Obviously the controller is paird and working if it turns on SteamVR. I still have to plug in both controllers to the PC USB port virtually every flippin time!
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Now it doesn't work at all and it's either off or on with blue light. SteamVR does not detect it I paired it again using steam VR and it paired but still appears to be doing the same thing. I turn it on and after a very short blue light, it turns green then after 5 seconds it shuts off. If I plug it into USB in those 5 seconds THEN the SteamVR window will turn the controller green and it will work. I just shut down SteamVR and the remote stayed on solid green... last time I did that it shut off. I start up SteamVR again and it shuts the controller OFF. Turn the controller back on and 5 seconds later it's off again.
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My God.... every time I boot up SteamVR it's a new game of what buttons to press, for how long... do I plug into USB now or later or not at all.... Sometimes the controllers are on but then turn off when I start steamVR, sometimes they turn blue and I have to long press to turn off then on again. Most of the time I have to connect them to USB to get them working. Once in awhile they turn off when SteamVR shuts down but most of the time I need to turn them off manually (which starts up SteamVR again) or I have to plug them in to stop the batteries from dying. Sometimes they turn on when connected to USB, somethines they are off after disconnecting USB, sometimes they are blue after connecting USB. It's NEVER THE SAME.... WTF is going on??? I can always get them working after a few steps but boy wouldn't it be nice if they turned on and just worked..... well, that happens 1 in 50 maybe.
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